Message transmission/reception control method and message transmission/reception control system

ABSTRACT

A message transmission and reception controlling method is provided which is excellent in certainty, reliability and confidentiality and in which the situation of a message as transmitted can always be confirmed by each of the sender and the addressee. Message property information H is generated from the message M to define the message M in correspondence with the user who transmits the above described message M and the user who receives the message M. The user can receives the message body information C as defined in the message property information H by browsing the message property information H. The message property information H belonging to the user as the sender and the message property information H the user as the addresee are updated in synchronism with the access to the message body information C so that it is possible to confirm the message transmission and reception situation of the message body information C by browsing the message property information H.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to a message transmission andreception controlling method and a message transmission and receptioncontrolling system for transmitting and receiving messages through acommunication network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, the use of e-mail has been popularized as meansof communication through a communication network. An e-mail is writtenwith a terminal (for example, a personal computer) by a sender and thentransmitted by communication means such as a telephone line to a company(provider) which provides access to the Internet for the sender with hismail account. The internet provider serves to temporarily stores themail in an e-mail server and then transfer it through the Internet tothe internet provider which has issued the mail account of theaddressee. Since the mail as transferred is stored in the e-mail serverof the internet provider of the addressee, the mail can be received bythe addressee with a terminal (for example, a personal computer) when hemake connection of the terminal with the internet provider throughcommunication means such as a telephone line and send a request fortransmission of the mail in response to which the internet providertransmits the mail stored in the e-mail server to the terminal of theaddressee through communication means such as a telephone line.

[0003] However, it has been recognized that there are following problemsin the case of the existing e-mail systems.

[0004] Since the current situation of the delivery of the e-mail dependson the settings of the respective transmission and relay point servers,it is not certain that the e-mail as transmitted by a sender is quicklypassed through the Internet and immediately received by the addresseeserver.

[0005] Also, the sender server does not guarantee delivery of a mail,and it is not certain that the addressee server transmits annotification of completion of the operation which is received by thesender server, and therefore the sender of the mail can not know veryimportant information relating to communication, i.e., “when the mailwas delivered to the addressee” and “when the addressee read the mail”.

[0006] Furthermore, it is also not certain that the sender can confirmthe fact of if the transmission fails, and therefore the sender can notcertainly know a very important problem relating to informationdelivery, i.e., “the mail as transmitted has not been received by theaddressee”.

[0007] Furthermore, since no encryption mechanism is implemented in thecommunication protocols, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP(Post office Protocol), the mail is usually exchanged in terms of planetexts. Because of this, the confidentiality of e-mail is notsufficiently secured so that it is difficult to use a mail for importantcorrespondence, messages which require high confidentiality and soforth.

[0008] Furthermore, since typical e-mail browsing software (mail clientsoftware) downloads the mail contents from an e-mail server, it isnecessary to set up mail software for each mail terminal and for eachmail account so that the setup procedure is troublesome for such a useras makes use of a plurality of terminals or a plurality of mailaccounts. Furthermore, in the case of the above software, the setup ismade in order that a mail is deleted from the server after downloadingthe same so that once a mail is read with one terminal, the mail can notbe read with any other terminal and therefore mails are scattered aboutthe respective terminals. For this reason, information carried by thee-mail is scattered to impede effective communication.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to solve the abovedescribed problems and to provide a message transmission and receptioncontrolling method and a message transmission and reception controllingsystem which are excellent in certainty, reliability and confidentialityand in which the situation of a message as transmitted can always beconfirmed by each of the sender and the addressee.

[0010] In order to accomplish the above described object, the messagetransmission and reception controlling method in accordance with thepresent invention is characterized by the provision of the followingrequirements for controlling the reception and transmission of messagesthrough a communication network, i.e.,

[0011] (a) individually setting for each user a user account and amessage property information database which is used to store messageproperty information relating to a message such as the sender, theaddressee, the date and time of the transmission, whether or not havingreceived, the reception time, the title and so forth;

[0012] (b) generating, when a user sends a message, the above describedmessage property information corresponding to the user who sends themessage and all the user(s) as the addressee(s) of the message, andstoring the message property information as generated in the messageproperty information database as provided belonging to each userrespectively;

[0013] (c) enabling a user to browse the message property informationdatabase belonging to the user through the communication network;

[0014] (d) enabling a user to receive a message as defined in the abovedescribed message property information by browsing the message propertyinformation database belonging the user and designating and requestingan arbitrary message as selected among from the message propertyinformation stored in the message property information database;

[0015] (e) enabling a user to confirm the message transmission andreception situation of a message as defined in the above describedmessage property information by browsing arbitrary message propertyinformation included in the message property information databasebelonging the user.

[0016] Meanwhile, when said user receives a message which has not beenread yet, the message property information of a user as a sender and themessage property information of a user as an addressee are synchronizedwith each other relating to the reception in order to secure thecoidentity between the message property information of a user as asender and the message property information of a user as an addressee.

[0017] Also, the message body may including the information proper to beconveyed of a message as transmitted by said user is stored in a messagebody information storage area.

[0018] Meanwhile, said message body information storage area ispreferably a message body information storage area which is providedindividually for the user who has transmitted said message.

[0019] It is preferred that, by providing at least one of said messageproperty information and said message body with user permissioninformation about the permission of reading, writing, deletion, transferand the like operation relating to messages, the message body isprevented from being manipulated by any request for an unauthorizedoperation and any operation request from a user who does not accord withthe user permission information.

[0020] Also, it is preferred that information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth, is added to saidmessage body in place of said message property information, and that themessage property information is limited to that required for accessingthe message body information, while information which is updated by thereception and transmission of a message is added to the message body, inorder not to scatter the information as updated.

[0021] At least one of said message body and the message propertyinformation may be encrypted and saved.

[0022] The message transmission and reception controlling system inaccordance with the present invention is characterized by provision ofthe following requirements for controlling the reception andtransmission of messages through a communication network, i.e.,

[0023] (a) individually setting for each user a user account andproviding a message property information database unit in which isstored message property information relating to a message such as thesender, the addressee, the date and time of the transmission, whether ornot having received, the reception time, the title and so forth and amessage body information storage unit in which is stored the messagebody of the message transmitted as information proper to be conveyed;

[0024] (b) when the message as transmitted by the user is received bysaid message processing server, storing the message body including themessage body of the message transmitted as information proper to beconveyed from the message as received into the message body informationstorage unit, generating the message property information such as thesender, the addressee, the date and time of the transmission, whether ornot having received, the reception time, the title and so forth fordefining the message corresponding to the user who sends the message andall the user(s) as the addressee(s) of the message, storing therespective message property information in the message propertyinformation database of said message property information database unitbelonging to the user;

[0025] (c) permitting a user who accesses the message processing serverthrough the communication network to browse the message propertyinformation database belonging to the user;

[0026] (d) enabling a user to receive a message body as defined in themessage property information by browsing the message propertyinformation database belonging the user, designating an arbitrarymessage property information and requesting the message body thereof tosaid message processing server;

[0027] (e) enabling a user to confirm the message transmission andreception situation of a message as defined in the message propertyinformation by accessing said message processing server and browsingarbitrary message property information included in the message propertyinformation database belonging the user.

[0028] It is preferred that, when said user receives a message which hasnot been read yet, the message property information of a user as asender and the message property information of a user as an addresseeare synchronized with each other relating to the reception by saidmessage processing server in order to secure the coidentity between themessage property information of a user as a sender and the messageproperty information of a user as an addressee.

[0029] It is preferred that the message body information storage unitfor storing said message body information is a message body informationstorage unit which is provided individually for the user who hastransmitted said message.

[0030] It is preferred that, by providing at least one of said messageproperty information and said message body stored in the message bodyinformation storage unit with user permission information about thepermission of reading, writing, deletion, transfer and the likeoperation relating to messages, said message processing server serves toprevent the message body from being manipulated by any request for anunauthorized operation and any operation request from a user who doesnot accord with the user permission information.

[0031] Also, it is preferred that said message processing server servesto add information for controlling the reception and transmission ofmessages, such as whether or not the transmission of a message has beencompleted, whether or not the addressee has received the message and soforth said message body in place of said message property information.

[0032] It is preferred that at least one of said message body and themessage property information is encrypted, and that the decryption keyis stored in at least one of the terminal of a user and said messageprocessing server.

[0033] Also, the message body information storage unit may be used tostore said message body together with files and application software andthe like in said message processing server.

[0034] It is preferred that said message processing server serves alsoto control transmission and reception of e-mail, in addition to thecontrol of transmission and reception of messages, in cooperation withan e-mail server which serves to control transmission and reception ofmessages so as to coexist with an existing e-mail system.

[0035] Furthermore, it is possible that when the address of thedestination of a message received and transmitted from said user is anaddress of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convert themessage to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server to transmitthe e-mail.

[0036] It is preferred that said message processing server is organizedin order to distribute at least one process or one process device amongfrom a message reception and transmission process or a process devicefor performing a message reception and transmission process, a messagebody information storing process or a process device for performing amessage body information storing process, an e-mail reception andtransmission process or a process device for performing an e-mailreception and transmission process, and a message property informationdatabase process or a process device for processing the message propertyinformation data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic networkconfiguration to which is applied a message transmission and receptioncontrolling method in accordance with the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the manipulation screen formanipulating a message as written by a sender.

[0039]FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the display screen window when anaddressee receives a message.

[0040]FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the display screen window in whichone example of message property information is displayed.

[0041]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for showing the display screenwindow with which a sender confirms the situation of the messagetransmitted by him.

[0042]FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the display screen window when anaddressee receives a message.

[0043]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for showing the display screenwindow with which a sender confirms the situation of the messagetransmitted by him.

[0044]FIG. 8 is an organization diagram of the message processingserver.

[0045]FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the messagecontrolling method and the flows of messages and message propertyinformation in accordance with the message transmission and receptioncontrolling method.

[0046]FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the operation of the messagecontrolling method and the processes of existing e-mail in the abovedescribed message processing server.

[0047]FIG. 11 is an organization diagram of another example of themessage processing server.

[0048]FIG. 12 is a presentation (a) to (d) for listing exemplaryinformation in accordance with the above described other example of themessage transmission and reception controlling method.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0049]FIG. 1 shows one example of a schematic network configuration viewfor explaining a message transmission and reception controlling methodand a message transmission and reception controlling system forcontrolling the reception and transmission of messages through acommunication network. In this schematic network configuration view, anumber of host computers 1 are connected to a number of user terminals 2through a communication network. Particularly, the host computer 1 thatperforms the message transmission and reception controlling method inaccordance with the present invention is referred to as a messageprocessing server S.

[0050] The above described message processing server S serves to receivea message which is send through the communication network 3 by a userterminal 2 as a sender with which the message is written, and serves totransmit the message through the communication network to a userterminal 2 as the addressee of the message in response to the requestfrom the user terminal 2 as the sender. While it is assumed that thecommunication network is the Internet in this description of the presentembodiment, the communication network is not limited to the Internet butcan be a LAN, or the combination of a LAN and the Internet.

[0051] In FIG. 1, when a user 2 (User01) sends a message through thecommunication network 3 to other users 2 (User02,03), the sender, i.e.,the user 2 (User01), is input to a sender input box “a”; the addressee,i.e., the users 2 (User01,03) are input to an addressee input box “b”;the title attached to the message is input to a title box “c”; thecontents of the message to be transmitted is input to a message box “d”;and after the information necessary for transmission is input to theuser terminal a transmission execution key “e” is selected in order totransmit the message.

[0052] When the message as written is transmitted, the messageprocessing server S having received the message serves to create messageproperty information including the sender, the addressee, thetransmission time, whether or not having received, the reception time,the title and so forth in correspondence with the user 2 (User01)transmitting the message and all the users 2 (User02,03) receiving themessage.

[0053]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a reception screen, whenUser02 as one of the users 2 (the addressees) receives a message. In thecase where the addressee 2 (User02) obtains his message propertyinformation (refer to FIG. 4) in which are recorded messages addressedto him, the content of a message(s) is transmitted to the user 2(User02) automatically or when the user 2 (User02) as the addresseeselects some of the titles (for example, a message associated with anicon indicative of the fact that the message has not been read yet) inorder to request the message. In this case, if the message as requestedhad not been read before transmission, the message property informationitem belonging to the above described message of the user 2 (User02) isupdated with the fact that the content of the message has been receivedby the user 2 (User02) with the date and time when the message isreceived and the like relating to the reception.

[0054] Furthermore, in synchronism with the update of the messageproperty information of the addressee, the message property informationitem belonging to the above described message of the sender is updatedwith the fact that the message addressed to an addressee has beenreceived by the addressee with the date and time when the message isreceived and the like relating to the reception.

[0055] By this configuration, the name of User01 as the sender isdisplayed in a sender name display box “e”; the time when the sendersends the message is displayed in a transmission time display box “f”;and the date and time when the addressee 2 (User02) receives the messageis displayed in a message reception time display box “g”. The message isdisplayed in a message display box “h” so as to display, in a messagetransmission and reception display box “i”, the information indicativethat the message property information of the addressees and the messageproperty information of the sender relating to the message is updated(refer to FIG. 3).

[0056] Also, the message property information belonging to the abovedescribed message of the sender is updated in synchronism with themessage property information of the addressee in order that the messageproperty information belonging to the message of the sender includesinformation indicative of the fact that the message addressed to anaddressee has been received by the terminal of the addressee andinformation about the date and time when the message is received and thelike relating to the reception, and therefore User01 as the sender canconfirm the message property information belonging to User01, asupdated, by selecting the manipulation screen (refer to FIG. 5) forconfirming the situation of the message as send.

[0057] Since User03 has not received the message at this time, themessage property information of the sender and the respective addresseesis updated by writing only information indicative of the fact thatUser02 confirms the message. By this configuration, each of the messagesender and the message addressee can be informed of the delivery of themessage by confirming the delivery situation in the message transmissionand reception display box “i”.

[0058]FIG. 6 is a view showing one example of a display screen windowwhen the message is received by an addressee User03 who had not yet readthe message. Since User03 read the message, there is displayed in themessage reception time display box “g” the date and time when theaddressee 3 (User03) received the message, Since the message isdisplayed in the message display box “h”, there is displayed in themessage transmission and reception display box “i” the informationindicative that the message property information of the addressee andthe message property information of the sender relating to the messageare updated.

[0059] Also, FIG. 7 shows one example of a transmission confirmationscreen provided for the sender. Since User03 read the message, themessage property information belonging to the respective users, i.e.,the sender and the respective addressees is updated to indicate that theentirety of the information has been browsed. By this configuration, thecurrent situation is displayed in the message transmission and receptiondisplay box “i” automatically or when the sender selectively requeststhe message property information. By this configuration, the sender canconfirm the fact that the message he send has been transmitted withoutfail and, at the same time, can obtain information about the times whenthe respective messages are browsed.

[0060] Meanwhile, the message transmission and reception display box “i”as described above may be used to inform the sender and all theaddressees of the reception situation. Alternatively, it is possible tolimitedly disclose the reception situation to the respective addresseesor to disclose the reception situation only to the sender.

[0061]FIG. 8 shows one example of a schematic configuration diagram ofthe message processing server S serving to control the messagetransmission and reception process as described above. This messageprocessing server S is implemented with an associated e-mail processserver E which is connected to the message processing server S via aprivate line and the like in order to exchange information therebetween.This configuration is designed in order that an internet connectionproviding company (referred to as an internet provider in the followingdescription) provides an e-mail transmission and reception controllingservice by means of an e-mail process server E of the prior art and alsoprovides the message transmission and reception controlling method inaccordance with the present invention. If such an e-mail transmissionand reception controlling service is not necessary, the configuration isimplemented only with the message processing server S.

[0062] In FIG. 8, the messages process controlling unit 10 serves toprovide an interface with the communication network and invoke a messageproperty information processing unit 11 within the messages processcontrolling unit 10 in order to process the message property informationcontents, relating to the message as transmitted and the message asreceived, such as the senders, the addressees, the date and time of thetransmission, whether or not the message has been received, the date andtime of the reception, the title and so forth, and also invoke a messagebody information processing unit 12 within the messages processcontrolling unit 10 in order to process the message body containing thecommunication contents.

[0063] The message property information is provided, in the messageproperty information processing unit 11, with additional controlinformation such as a reference key to the message body, a decryptionkey if the message is stored as an encrypted text, the date and timewhen transmitted, whether or not the user as an addressee has beenreceived, the date and time of the reception and so forth, and stored ina message property information database unit 13 as the message propertyinformation H belonging to the message corresponding to the sender ofthe message and each of all the addressees of the message.

[0064] Then, the message body is provided in the message bodyinformation processing unit 12 with linking information (for example, areference key, a user key and so forth) to the above described messageproperty information H and stored in a message body information storageunit 14 as a message body C. There are separately allocated message bodyinformation storage areas in the message body information storage unit14 to the respective users while the message body information processingunit 12 serves to store the message body C in corresponding one of themessage body information storage areas of the message body informationstorage unit 14 with reference to the linking information (for example,the user key) as added.

[0065] Meanwhile, the message property information H may include userinformation about the permission of reading, writing, deletion, transferand the like relating to the above described message body C (forexample, the message sender is permitted to read, write and delete themessage body C while a message addressee is permitted to read themessage body C) while the operations using the above described messagebody C may be restricted if the user does not correspond to the userinformation or if the user corresponding to the user informationrequests an unauthorized operation. In accordance with the abovedescribed configuration, the confidentiality of messages can be securedby protecting the message body C against overstepping accesses by anadministrator and unauthorized users for reading, writing, deleting,transferring the message body C and the like operation. Furthermore,even in the case where the server is attacked or invaded, theconfidentiality of the message body C can be maintained.

[0066] Still further, the above described message body C may be storedas an encrypted text in the message body information storage area of themessage body information storage unit 14 while the decryption keyrequired for decryption of the encrypted text may be stored in themessage property information H corresponding to the above describedmessage body C as additional information. In accordance with the abovedescribed configuration, since the encryption of the message body C cannot be decrypted unless accessed with the message property information Hincluding the decryption key, the confidentiality of messages can beimproved in the same manner as described above.

[0067] Meanwhile, the decryption key may be stored in the terminal of auser in order that when the user browses a message the messageprocessing server S serves to transmit the message body C as having beenencrypted to the terminal followed by decrypting it at the terminal.

[0068] Also, the message processing server S is implemented with acryptographic processing unit (not shown in the figure), which servesmainly to perform encryption and decryption, as a predetermined areaother than the message property information database unit 13 and themessage body information storage unit 14. When a user requestsdecryption of a message body C, the message processing server S servesto access to the message property information H belonging to theindividual user and also to the cryptographic processing unit to obtaina decryption key for decrypting the message while the cryptographicprocessing unit serves to judge whether or not the decryption key can bedelivered with reference to the message property information H, and ifaffirmative the decryption key is given to the message body informationstorage unit 14 to disclose the message body C to the user so that theload on the message processing server S is lessened by distributing thetasks.

[0069] Furthermore, different encryption keys are stored respectively inthe message processing server S and the terminal of a user in order togenerate a decryption key of data by collating or combining themtogether.

[0070] When there is a request from a user for disclosure of the messagebody C, the encryption key of the terminal which is maintained in theterminal or by the user in the form of a password or an external storagedevice is requested by the cryptographic processing unit which isresponsible for managing the encryption key in the message processingserver S, the encryption process and the decryption process. Adecryption key is generated from the two encryption keys, i.e., theencryption key of the terminal and the encryption key of the server, bythe cryptographic processing unit.

[0071] Then, the user 2 accesses to the message processing server S, andwhen there is the message property information H belonging to him,requests the message processing server S for transmission of the messagebody C. The messages process controlling unit 10 then invokes themessage body information processing unit 12 to read out the message bodyC corresponding to the message property information H from the messagebody information storage unit 14 by referring to the message propertyinformation H through the message property information processing unit11 and transmit the message body C as read out to the user 2. Also, atthe same time, the messages process controlling unit 10 invokes themessage property information processing unit 11 to update the messageproperty information H belonging to the user as the addressee relatingto whether or not the message property information H has been receivedand the date and time when received and also to update, in synchronismtherewith, the message property information H belonging to the user asthe sender so that it is possible to synchronize the message propertyinformation of the user as the sender and the message propertyinformation of the user as the addressee.

[0072] Next, one example of controlling the reception and transmissionof a message by the message processing server when a user sends themessage will be explained with reference to FIG. 9.

[0073] In the case where a user 2 a (the sender) sends a message M1 to auser 2 b who has a user account in the same message processing server S1as the user 2 a, the user 2 a writes the message M1 with his terminaland accesses to the message processing server S1 on the basis of theuser account belonging to the user 2 a in order to transmit the messageM1 to the message processing server S1 (a101).

[0074] The messages process controlling unit 100 of the messageprocessing server S1 serves to receive the message M1 as transmittedfrom the terminal of the user 2 a and divide it into the message body C1and the message property information HI. The message body C1 is thenstored in the message body information storage area 140 a of the messagebody information storage unit 140 belonging to the user 2 a by themessage body information processing unit 120 in the messages processcontrolling unit 100 (a102).

[0075] The message property information processing unit 110 in themessages process controlling unit 100 then serves to add, to the messageproperty information H1, additional information of the date and time ofthe message transmission, whether or not the addressee has read, thelocation where the message body C1 is stored, the decryption key if themessage body C1 is encrypted and the like information, followed bystoring the message property information H1 in the database area 130 aof a message property information database unit 130 belonging to theuser 2 a as a message property information H1 a (a103).

[0076] Also, in synchronism therewith, the message property informationH1 a is stored in the database area 130 b belonging to the user 2 b (theaddressee). Since the user 2 b has a user account in the same messageprocessing server S1 as the user 2 a, the message property informationH1 b is stored in the database area 130 b belonging to the user 2 b (theaddressee) with the same contents as the message property information H1a (a104).

[0077] On the other hand, the user 2 b as the addressee of the messageM1 accesses to the message processing server S1 (a201) on the basis ofthe user account registered belonging to the user 2 b, and browses themessage property information H1 b of the message M1 belonging to him asstored in the database area 130 b in the message property informationdatabase unit 130 belonging to the user 2 b through the message propertyinformation processing unit 110 of the message processing server S1(a202 and a203).

[0078] Since the message property information H1 b contains the linkinginformation to the message body C1, when the user 2 b requeststransmission of the message body C1 to the message processing server S1by designating the message property information H1 b (a204), the messageprocessing server S1 invokes the message body information processingunit 120 to transmit the message body C1 as stored in the message bodyinformation storage area 140 a belonging to the user 2 a (a205 and a206)to the terminal of the user 2 b. By this procedure, the user 2 b canreceive the message M1 which is transmitted from the user 2 a.

[0079] In this manner, after the message property information H1 b hasbeen stored in the database area 130 b belonging to the user 2 b, theuser 2 b can receive the message M1 as transmitted from the user 2 a bybrowsing the database area 130 b belonging to the user 2 b and thereforethere is prepared, when the message property information H1 a and themessage property information H1 b is synchronized and stored, such acondition that the user 2 b can receive a message anytime.

[0080] Also, after confirming that the user 2 b has received the messagebody C, the message processing server S1 invokes the message propertyinformation processing unit 10 to update the message propertyinformation H1 a and the message property information H1 b relating tothe message M1 within the database area 130 a belonging to the user 2 aand the database area 130 b belonging to the user 2 b in the messageproperty information database unit 130 (a207).

[0081] The user 2 a can confirm that the message M1 has certainly beenreceived by the user 2 b by accessing again the message processingserver S1 to browse the message property information H1 a of the messageM1 as stored in the database area 130 a belonging to the user 2 a (a208and a209).

[0082] With respect to storing or updating the message propertyinformation database unit 130 of said message property information H1 aand the message property information H1 b, it is preferred tosynchronize with each other. However, when some trouble occurs duringthe above described storing operation, both are updated or otherwiseneither is updated to indicate an operation error so that it is not thecase that only one of the message property information H1 a and themessage property information H1 b is updated. Furthermore, when both areupdated in synchronism with each other, a temporary storage device and astoring control unit (not shown in the figure) are invoked totemporarily store the message property information H1 a and the messageproperty information H1 b in synchronism with each other in order toaccomplish the equivalent effects.

[0083] Meanwhile, in the case where a message is generated andreceived/transmited by the use of the above described terminal, theadministrator as an operations manager of the message processing servermay supply the user with an editor for use in writing a message by meansof a storage medium such as CD-ROM. Alternatively, an editor for use inwriting a message can be downloaded to the terminal of the user in orderthat the user writes and receives/transmits by the use of the editor.

[0084] Next, in the case where the user 2 a sends a message M2 to a user2 b who has a user account in a message processing server S2 which isdifferent than the message processing server of the user 2 a, the user 2a writes the message M2 with his terminal and accesses to the messageprocessing server S1 on the basis of the user account belonging to theuser 2 a in order to transmit the message M2 to the message processingserver S1 (a301).

[0085] The messages process controlling unit 100 of the messageprocessing server S1 serves to receive the message M2 as transmittedfrom the terminal of the user 2 a and divide it into the message body C2and the message property information H2. The message body C2 is thenstored in the message body information storage area 140 a of the messagebody information storage unit 140 belonging to the user 2 a by themessage body information processing unit 120 in the messages processcontrolling unit 100 (a302).

[0086] The message property information processing unit 110 in themessages process controlling unit 100 then serves to add, to the messageproperty information H2, additional information of the date and time ofthe message transmission, whether or not the addressee has read, thelocation where the message body C2 is stored, the decryption key if themessage body C2 is encrypted and the like information, followed bystoring the message property information H2 in the database area 130 aof the message property information database unit 130 belonging to theuser 2 a as a message property information H2 a (a303).

[0087] On the other hand, in synchronism with the above describedoperation, the messages process controlling unit 100 of the messageprocessing server S1 requests the message processing server S2 havingthe user account of the user 2 c as an addressee of the message M2 forwriting the message property information H2 a as updated of the messageM2(a304).

[0088] In response to the request from the above described messageprocessing server S1, the message processing server S2 invokes themessage property information processing unit 111 in the messages processcontrolling unit 101 to store, as the message property information H2 c,the message property information H2 a of the message M2 in the messageproperty information database 131 c of the message property informationdatabase unit 131 belonging to the user 2 c (a305), and returns aresponse indicative of completion of the operation as requested to themessages process controlling unit 100 of the message processing serverS1 (a306).

[0089] On the other hand, the user 2 c as the addressee of the messageM2 accesses to the message processing server S2 (a401) on the basis ofthe user account registered belonging to the user 2 c, and browses themessage property information H1 c of the message M2 belonging to him asstored in the database area 130 c in the message property informationdatabase unit 131 belonging to the user 2 c through the message propertyinformation processing unit 111 of the message processing server S2(a402 and a403).

[0090] Since the message property information H2 c contains the linkinginformation to the message body C2, when the user 2 c requeststransmission of the message body C2 to the message processing server S2by designating the message property information H1 c (a404), the messageprocessing server S2 requests the message processing server S1 totransmit the message body C2 as stored in the message body informationstorage area 140 belonging to the user 2 a (a405) to the terminal of theuser 2 c.

[0091] In response to the request from the above described messageprocessing server S1, the message processing server S2 invokes themessage body information processing unit 120 to transmit, to the user 2c, the message body C2 stored in the message body information storagearea 140 a of the message body information storage unit 140 belonging tothe user 2 a (a406, a407 and a408). By this operation, the user 2 c canreceive the message M2 which is a message from the user 2 a.

[0092] In this manner, after the message property information H2 c isstored in the message property information database 131 c for the firsttime, the user 2 c can receive the message M2 as transmitted from theuser 2 a by browsing the message property information database 131 cbelonging to the user 2 c and therefore a condition that the user 2 bcan receive a message anytime can be established.

[0093] Then, after confirming the reception of the message body C2 bythe user 2 c, the message processing server S2 invokes the messageproperty information processing unit 111 to store information about thedate and time when received and the like in the message propertyinformation H2 c as stored in the message property information database131 c in the message property information database unit 131 belonging tothe user 2 c (a409), and also to request the message processing serverS1 to record the fact that the user 2 c has received the message body C2in the message property information H2 a belonging to the user 2 a asthe sender (a410).

[0094] In response to the request, the message processing server S1invokes the message property information processing unit 110 to recordthe fact that the user 2 c has received the message body C2 to updatethe property information H2 a in the database area 130 a in the messageproperty information database unit 130 belonging to the user 2 a (a411),and returns a response indicative of completion of the operation to themessage processing server S2 (a412). The user 2 a accesses again themessage processing server S1 in order to confirm that the message M2 hascertainly been received by the user 2 c by browsing the message propertyinformation H2 a of the message M2 as stored in the database area 130 abelonging to the user 2 a (a413 and a414).

[0095] With respect to storing or updating the message propertyinformation database unit of said message property information H2 a andthe message property information H2 c, it is preferred to synchronizewith each other. However, when some trouble occurs during the abovedescribed storing operation both are updated or otherwise neither is notupdated to indicate an operation error so that it is not the case thatonly one of the message property information H2 a and the messageproperty information H2 c is updated. Furthermore, as described above,when both are updated in synchronism with each other, a temporarystorage device and a storing control unit are invoked to temporarilystore the message property information H2 a and the message propertyinformation H2 c in synchronism with each other in order to accomplishthe equivalent effects.

[0096] In accordance with the management scheme as described above, itis possible to certainly control the situation of the reception andtransmission by generating, from the message, the message body thereof,the message property information of the addressee and the messageproperty information of the sender relating to the message, and browsingthe message property information.

[0097] Also, since the message body shall not be transferred to anothermessage processing server from the message body information storage unitof the message processing server having the user account of the sender,the confidentiality of the message is secured without a fear of losingthe message due to some trouble during transmission. Furthermore, whileit is possible at the sending end to confirm whether or not theaddressee has read the message and, if read, the date and time whenread, it is possible at the receiving end to obtain the message propertyinformation belonging to the receiver and to obtain upon request thebody text of the message as defined in the message property informationso that the message can be obtained from any terminal for any number oftimes to prevent messages from being scattered over a plurality ofterminals.

[0098] Meanwhile, the confidentiality in information communicationbetween the terminal of a user and a message processing server andbetween a message processing server and a message processing server maybe secured by cipher communication by the use of SSL (Secure SocketLayer) and so forth.

[0099] Next, explained with respect to FIG. 10 is the case where theuser 2 a sends a message to a user 2 d of e-mail.

[0100] The user 2 a writes a message M3 to the user 2 d with histerminal and transmit it to the message processing server S1 (a501). Themessages process controlling unit 100 of the message processing serverS1 serves to receive the message M3 as transmitted from the terminal ofthe user 2 a (a502).

[0101] The message processing server S1 serves to confirm that thedestination address is belonging to the e-mail user 2 d and transfer themessage M3 to the e-mail process server E (a503), and then the messageM3 is transferred to an e-mail reception and transmission box 16 by ane-mail processing server E (a504). Thereafter, the e-mail M3 istransmitted to the user 2 d in accordance with the setting of the e-mailprocessing server E (a505).

[0102] Also, the case where the e-mail user 2 d sends a message to theuser 2 a will be explained.

[0103] When the e-mail M4 is transmitted to the e-mail from the user 2 d(a601 a), the e-mail M4 is then transmitted to the e-mail processingcontrol unit 15 from the e-mail reception and transmission box 16(a602).

[0104] The e-mail processing control unit 15 transfers the e-mail M4 tothe messages process controlling unit 100 (a603), which confirms thatthe destination address of the e-mail M4 is the user 2 a followed bydividing it into the message body C4 and the message propertyinformation H4.

[0105] The message body C4 is saved in the message body informationstorage area 140 a of the message body information storage unit 140belonging to the user 2 a by the message body information processingunit 120 in the messages process controlling unit 100(a604).

[0106] The message property information processing unit 110 in themessages process controlling unit 100 then serves to add, to the messageproperty information H4, additional information including the locationwhere the message body C4 is stored, the decryption key if the messagebody C1 is encrypted and the like information, followed by storing themessage property information H4 in the database area 130 a belonging tothe user 2 a as a message property information H4 a (a605).

[0107] On the other hand, the user 2 a as the addressee of the messageM4 accesses to the message processing server S1 (a701), and browses themessage property information H4 b of the message M4 belonging to him asstored in the database area 130 a in the message property informationdatabase unit 130 belonging to the user 2 a through the message propertyinformation processing unit 110 of the message processing server S1(a702 and a703).

[0108] Since the message property information H4 a contains the linkinginformation to the message body C4, when the user 2 a requeststransmission of the message body C4 to the message processing server S1by designating the message property information H4 a (a704), the messageprocessing server S1 invokes the message body information processingunit 120 to transmit the message body C4 as stored in the message bodyinformation storage area 140 a belonging to the user 2 a (a705) to theterminal of the user 2 a (a706). By this procedure, the user 2 a canreceive the message M4 which is transmitted from the user 2 d.

[0109] As described above, the e-mail M transmitted from the e-mail useris divided by the messages process controlling unit 100 into the mailbody containing information proper to be conveyed and the propertyinformation of the e-mail. The mail body is stored in the message bodyinformation storage unit 140 as the message body C while the propertyinformation of the mail is stored in the message property informationdatabase unit 130 as the message property information H. Because ofthis, a user 2 under control of the message processing server S canconduct the reception and transmission of e-mail by the same procedureas in the case of the reception and transmission of messages fromanother user 2 under control of the message processing server S, andtherefore the system in accordance with the present invention cancoexist with the e-mail system which is a mainstream at the present dayand can provide information processing business with a message receptionand transmission service for any user under control of either system.

[0110] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the message property informationH does not contain all the information relating to the message butrather is used to contain only limited information required foraccessing the message body C (for example, the information asillustrated in FIG. 12(a)) while the message body information storageunit 14 is used to contain, as well as the message body C, managementinformation T such as whether or not the transmission of a message hasbeen completed, whether or not the addressee has received the messageand so forth for use in management of the reception and transmission ofmessages (for example, information including items as illustrated inFIG. 12(b) and FIG. 12(c)).

[0111] This message property information H contains description ofinformation required for accessing the message body, for example, thesender of the message, the date and time of the transmission, thelinking information to the message body and the like, and therefore isusually not modified so that there does not occur data mismatch due toupdate trouble between the sender and the destination. Also, since onlyminimum information is receive/transmitted, it is possible to lessen theload on the message processing server S in processing the reception andtransmission operation.

[0112] Furthermore, since information as updated (for example, the dateand time of the reception) is described in the user information of themanagement information (refer to FIG. 12(c)), the updating operation isperformed with the management information T in the message processingserver in which the sender has an account and therefore the managementinformation T is not dispersed to make sure the synchronization of theinformation. This management information T can be browsed together withthe message body C, when accessing the message body C on the basis ofthe message property information H, in order to obtain information suchas whether or not the addressee of the message has browsed and the dateand time when browsed.

[0113] While the messages process controlling unit, the message bodyinformation storage unit, the message property information database unitand the e-mail server are described respectively as one device for eachunit (server) in the case of the respective embodiments as describedabove, it is possible to implement one unit (server) with a plurality ofdevices or to implement one unit (server) as a partially distributedprocessing system. Also, while said message body information storageunit and said message property information database unit are providedrespectively with information areas belonging to the respective users inthe case of the respective embodiments as described above, it ispossible to provide individual storage means and database, todistinguish the respective private user areas from each other in asingle storage device and a single database, or to add identificationsymbols for individual users to the information stored in the storagedevice and the database.

[0114] Furthermore, while the message as transmitted from the userterminal is divided into the mail body as the information proper to beconveyed and the property information thereof which are stored in themessage body information storage unit and the message propertyinformation database unit respectively in the above description, it ispossible to divide the message into the message body and the messageproperty information in the user terminal followed by separatelytransmitting them to the message processing server, to store theentirety of the message in the temporary storage device in the messageprocessing server at the outset and thereafter extract the messageproperty information and the message body respectively followed bystoring them respectively in the message body information storage unitand the message property information database unit, or to store theentirety of the message in the message body storage unit and thereafterextract only the message property information followed by storing it inthe message property information database unit.

[0115] Furthermore, in accordance with the above description, when themessage property information is divided into the management informationT and the property information H required for accessing the messagebody, the management information T for use in managing the message bodyis added to the message body and stored together in the message bodyinformation storage unit 14. However, it is possible to divide themessage into the message body C, the property information H and themanagement information T for use in managing the message body followedby separately transmitting them to the message processing server, tostore the entirety of the message in the temporary storage device in themessage processing server at the outset and thereafter extract themessage body C, the property information H and the managementinformation T respectively followed by storing them respectively in themessage body information storage unit and the message propertyinformation database unit, to store the entirety of the message in themessage body storage unit and thereafter extract only the messageproperty information except for the management information T followed bystoring it in the message property information database unit, or toextract the management information T, which is then stored in a storageunit which is exclusively provided for the management information T inthe server.

[0116] Also, the communication between one message processing server andanother message processing server is based upon cipher communicationsuch as SSL (Secure Socket Layer). However, it is not inevitable to makeuse of a cryptograph in the communication protocol level but it ispossible to make use of another cryptograph implementation unless thecontents as communicated can not be easily decrypted by a third person.

[0117] In the case of the embodiment in which individual users exchangemessages with each other, only a single addressee receives the message.However, the operation is applicable also in the case where there are aplurality of addressees as involved.

[0118] Furthermore, the above respective embodiments are described sothat messages are exchanged between the user terminal and the messageprocessing server through a communication network. However, there areequivalent effects in the case where messages are inputted to andoutputted from the message processing server by the use of aninput/output device which is connected direct to the message processingserver.

[0119] Meanwhile, in accordance with the management method as describedabove, while the message body is stored in the message storage region,the message property information relating to the message body isdistributed to all the users as the addressees. The message storageregion can be not only used to store messages but also used to storefiles and application software which are open to or shared with otherusers in place of or in addition to the message body.

[0120] By this configuration, it is possible to exchange and share filesand therefore to prevent a file from being redundantly copied orredundantly transmitted to lessen the load on the system. Also, itbecomes easy to update information such as version upgrade of files andapplication software. Since all the users always make use of the samefile and application software, it is possible to avoid mismatch due todifferent versions and to update information such as re-scheduling insynchronism.

[0121] Practical Industrial Applicability

[0122] In accordance with the message transmission and receptioncontrolling method and the message transmission and receptioncontrolling system of the present invention, each user can certainlycontrol the situation of the reception and transmission whilegenerating, from the message as transmitted to the message processingserver from a user, the message body thereof, the message propertyinformation of the addressee and the message property information of thesender relating to the message, and browsing the message propertyinformation.

[0123] Then, by referring to the message property information, it ispossible, at the sending end, to confirm whether or not the message astransmitted therefrom has been received and, if received, the date andtime when received, while at the receiving end, it is possible toperform reception operation by browsing the message property informationaddressed thereto in order to receive the message as defined in themessage property information so that the message can be received withany terminal at any time to prevent messages from being scattered over aplurality of terminals.

[0124] Also, since the message body shall not be transferred to anothermessage processing server from the message body information storage unitof the message processing server having the user account of the sender,the confidentiality of the message is secured while messages arecertainly controlled without a fear of losing the message due to sometrouble during transmission unlike in the case of e-mail.

[0125] Furthermore, by providing the message property information withuser permission information about the permission of reading, writing,deletion, transfer and the like relating to messages, the message bodycan not be manipulated by any operation request other than suchoperation requests by users who are permitted to perform operations inthe user permission information of the message property information andtherefore it is possible to improve reliability against invasion andattacks to the message processing server.

[0126] Meanwhile, since the property information required for accessingthe message body and the management information required for controllingthe message body, e.g., whether or not the message has been received andthe date and time when received and the like are extracted from all themessage property information, followed by storing the propertyinformation as extracted in the message property information databaseunit and storing the management information together with the messagebody, only the property information required for accessing the messagebody is stored in the message property information database unit of theaddressee while the message body and the management information requiredfor controlling the message body are stored in the message processingserver of the sender and therefore, unlike the case where the managementinformation is included in the property information, without generatingdata mismatch relating to the management information and the like due toupdate trouble between the destination and the sender. In addition tothis, since only minimum information is receive/transmitted, it ispossible to lessen the load on the message processing server inprocessing the reception and transmission operation.

[0127] Also, for information management business such as internetproviders by making use of the message transmission and receptioncontrolling system in accordance with the present invention, the messagebody is saved after encrypting the message body while the decryption keyis stored in the message property information corresponding to themessage so that even if the message processing server is invaded orattacked the message body and the message body is maintained as beingsecured without fear of decrypting unless the decryption key is browsedby the invading person.

[0128] Furthermore, it is possible to apparently exchange and share datawithout actual data transfer by making use of the message storage regionfor storing files and application software which are desirably open toor shared with other users in place of or in addition to the messagebody, and therefore to prevent a file from being redundantly copied orredundantly transmitted to lessen the load on the system and also toavoid mismatch due to different versions and to update information suchas re-scheduling in synchronism while all the users always make use ofthe same file and application software.

[0129] Furthermore, while the system can coexist with the e-mail systemwhich is a mainstream at the present day, even if an e-mail istransmitted from an e-mail user, it is possible to conduct the receptionand transmission of the e-mail by the same procedure as in the case ofthe reception and transmission of messages from a user under control ofthe message processing server and therefore it is possible forinformation management business such as internet providers to smoothlymeet with arrangement required for switch the system.

What is claimed is:
 1. A message transmission and reception controllingmethod for controlling transmission and reception of messages through acommunication network characterized by the following requirements of:(a) individually setting for each user a user account and a messageproperty information database which is used to store message propertyinformation relating to a message such as the sender, the addressee, thedate and time of the transmission, whether or not having received, thereception time, the title and so forth; (b) generating, when a usersends a message, the above described message property informationcorresponding to the user who sends the message and all the user(s) asthe addressee(s) of the message, and storing the message propertyinformation as generated in the message property information database asprovided belonging to each user respectively; (c) enabling a user tobrowse the message property information database belonging to the userthrough the communication network; (d) enabling a user to receive amessage as defined in the above described message property informationby browsing the message property information database belonging the userand designating and requesting an arbitrary message as selected amongfrom the message property information stored in the message propertyinformation database; (e) enabling a user to confirm the messagetransmission and reception situation of a message as defined in theabove described message property information by browsing arbitrarymessage property information included in the message propertyinformation database belonging the user.
 2. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when saiduser receives a message which has not been read yet, the messageproperty information of a user as a sender and the message propertyinformation of a user as an addressee are synchronized with each otherrelating to the reception in order to secure the coidentity between themessage property information of a user as a sender and the messageproperty information of a user as an addressee.
 3. The messagetransmission and reception controlling method as claimed in claim 1wherein the message body including the information proper to be conveyedof a message as transmitted by said user is stored in a message bodyinformation storage area.
 4. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the message bodyincluding the information proper to be conveyed of a message astransmitted by said user is stored in a message body information storagearea.
 5. The message transmission and reception controlling method asclaimed in claim 3 wherein said message body information storage area isa message body information storage area which is provided individuallyfor the user who has transmitted said message.
 6. The messagetransmission and reception controlling method as claimed in claim 1wherein, by providing at least one of said message property informationand said message body with user permission information about thepermission of reading, writing, deletion, transfer and the likeoperation relating to messages, the message body is prevented from beingmanipulated by any request for an unauthorized operation and anyoperation request from a user who does not accord with the userpermission information.
 7. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 2 wherein, by providing at leastone of said message property information and said message body with userpermission information about the permission of reading, writing,deletion, transfer and the like operation relating to messages, themessage body is prevented from being manipulated by any request for anunauthorized operation and any operation request from a user who doesnot accord with the user permission information.
 8. The messagetransmission and reception controlling method as claimed in claim 3wherein, by providing at least one of said message property informationand said message body with user permission information about thepermission of reading, writing, deletion, transfer and the likeoperation relating to messages, the message body is prevented from beingmanipulated by any request for an unauthorized operation and anyoperation request from a user who does not accord with the userpermission information.
 9. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 5 wherein, by providing at leastone of said message property information and said message body with userpermission information about the permission of reading, writing,deletion, transfer and the like operation relating to messages, themessage body is prevented from being manipulated by any request for anunauthorized operation and any operation request from a user who doesnot accord with the user permission information.
 10. The messagetransmission and reception controlling method as claimed in claim 2wherein information for controlling the reception and transmission ofmessages, such as whether or not the transmission of a message has beencompleted, whether or not the addressee has received the message and soforth, is added to said message body in place of said message propertyinformation.
 11. The message transmission and reception controllingmethod as claimed in claim 3 wherein information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth, is added to saidmessage body in place of said message property information.
 12. Themessage transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 5 wherein information for controlling the reception andtransmission of messages, such as whether or not the transmission of amessage has been completed, whether or not the addressee has receivedthe message and so forth, is added to said message body in place of saidmessage property information.
 13. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 6 wherein information forcontrolling the reception and transmission of messages, such as whetheror not the transmission of a message has been completed, whether or notthe addressee has received the message and so forth, is added to saidmessage body in place of said message property information.
 14. Themessage transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 3 wherein at least one of said message body and the messageproperty information is encrypted and saved.
 15. The messagetransmission and reception controlling method as claimed in claim 5wherein at least one of said message body and the message propertyinformation is encrypted and saved.
 16. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least oneof said message body and the message property information is encryptedand saved.
 17. The message transmission and reception controlling methodas claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one of said message body and themessage property information is encrypted and saved.
 18. A messagetransmission and reception controlling method for controllingtransmission and reception of messages through a communication networkcharacterized by the following requirements of: (a) individually settingfor each user a user account and providing a message propertyinformation database unit in which is stored message propertyinformation relating to a message such as the sender, the addressee, thedate and time of the transmission, whether or not having received, thereception time, the title and so forth and a message body informationstorage unit in which is stored the message body of the messagetransmitted as information proper to be conveyed; (b) when the messageas transmitted by the user is received by said message processingserver, storing the message body including the message body of themessage transmitted as information proper to be conveyed from themessage as received into the message body information storage unit,generating the message property information such as the sender, theaddressee, the date and time of the transmission, whether or not havingreceived, the reception time, the title and so forth for defining themessage corresponding to the user who sends the message and all theuser(s) as the addressee(s) of the message, storing the respectivemessage property information in the message property informationdatabase of said message property information database unit belonging tothe user; (c) permitting a user who accesses the message processingserver through the communication network to browse the message propertyinformation database belonging to the user; (d) enabling a user toreceive a message body as defined in the message property information bybrowsing the message property information database belonging the user,designating an arbitrary message property information and requesting themessage body thereof to said message processing server; (e) enabling auser to confirm the message transmission and reception situation of amessage as defined in the message property information by accessing saidmessage processing server and browsing arbitrary message propertyinformation included in the message property information databasebelonging the user.
 19. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein, when said userreceives a message which has not been read yet, the message propertyinformation of a user as a sender and the message property informationof a user as an addressee are synchronized with each other relating tothe reception by said message processing server in order to secure thecoidentity between the message property information of a user as asender and the message property information of a user as an addressee.20. The message transmission and reception controlling method as claimedin claim 18 wherein the message body information storage unit forstoring said message body information is a message body informationstorage unit which is provided individually for the user who hastransmitted said message.
 21. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit for storing said message body information is amessage body information storage unit which is provided individually forthe user who has transmitted said message.
 22. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein, byproviding at least one of said message property information and saidmessage body stored in the message body information storage unit withuser permission information about the permission of reading, writing,deletion, transfer and the like operation relating to messages, saidmessage processing server serves to prevent the message body from beingmanipulated by any request for an unauthorized operation and anyoperation request from a user who does not accord with the userpermission information.
 23. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein, by providing at leastone of said message property information and said message body stored inthe message body information storage unit with user permissioninformation about the permission of reading, writing, deletion, transferand the like operation relating to messages, said message processingserver serves to prevent the message body from being manipulated by anyrequest for an unauthorized operation and any operation request from auser who does not accord with the user permission information.
 24. Themessage transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 20 wherein, by providing at least one of said message propertyinformation and said message body stored in the message body informationstorage unit with user permission information about the permission ofreading, writing, deletion, transfer and the like operation relating tomessages, said message processing server serves to prevent the messagebody from being manipulated by any request for an unauthorized operationand any operation request from a user who does not accord with the userpermission information.
 25. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said messageprocessing server serves to add information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth said message body inplace of said message property information.
 26. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein saidmessage processing server serves to add information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth said message body inplace of said message property information.
 27. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 20 wherein saidmessage processing server serves to add information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth said message body inplace of said message property information.
 28. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein saidmessage processing server serves to add information for controlling thereception and transmission of messages, such as whether or not thetransmission of a message has been completed, whether or not theaddressee has received the message and so forth said message body inplace of said message property information.
 29. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein at leastone of said message body and the message property information isencrypted, and wherein the decryption key is stored in at least one ofthe terminal of a user and said message processing server.
 30. Themessage transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 19 wherein at least one of said message body and the messageproperty information is encrypted, and wherein the decryption key isstored in at least one of the terminal of a user and said messageprocessing server.
 31. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 20 wherein at least one of saidmessage body and the message property information is encrypted, andwherein the decryption key is stored in at least one of the terminal ofa user and said message processing server.
 32. The message transmissionand reception controlling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein at leastone of said message body and the message property information isencrypted, and wherein the decryption key is stored in at least one ofthe terminal of a user and said message processing server.
 33. Themessage transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 25 wherein at least one of said message body and the messageproperty information is encrypted, and wherein the decryption key isstored in at least one of the terminal of a user and said messageprocessing server.
 34. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 35. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 36. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 37. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 38. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 39. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the message bodyinformation storage unit is used to store said message body togetherwith files and application software and the like in said messageprocessing server.
 40. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 41. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 42. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 43. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 44. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 45. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 29 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages., in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 46. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said messageprocessing server serves also to control transmission and reception ofe-mail, in addition to the control of transmission and reception ofmessages, in cooperation with an e-mail server which serves to controltransmission and reception of messages.
 47. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein, when theaddress of the destination of a message received and transmitted fromsaid user is an address of e-mail, said message processing server servesto convert the message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail serverto transmit the e-mail.
 48. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 19 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 49. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 20 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 50. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 51. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 25 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 52. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 29 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 53. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 34 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 54. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 40 wherein, when the address ofthe destination of a message received and transmitted from said user isan address of e-mail, said message processing server serves to convertthe message to an e-mail and then to request an e-mail server totransmit the e-mail.
 55. The message transmission and receptioncontrolling method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said messageprocessing server is organized in order to distribute at least oneprocess or one process device among from a message reception andtransmission process or a process device for performing a messagereception and transmission process, a message body information storingprocess or a process device for performing a message body informationstoring process, an e-mail reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess, and a message property information database process or aprocess device for processing the message property information data. 56.The message transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 19 wherein said message processing server is organized in order todistribute at least one process or one process device among from amessage reception and transmission process or a process device forperforming a message reception and transmission process, a message bodyinformation storing process or a process device for performing a messagebody information storing process, an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess or a process device for performing an e-mail reception andtransmission process, and a message property information databaseprocess or a process device for processing the message propertyinformation data.
 57. The message transmission and reception controllingmethod as claimed in claim 20 wherein said message processing server isorganized in order to distribute at least one process or one processdevice among from a message reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing a message reception and transmissionprocess, a message body information storing process or a process devicefor performing a message body information storing process, an e-mailreception and transmission process or a process device for performing ane-mail reception and transmission process, and a message propertyinformation database process or a process device for processing themessage property information data.
 58. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said messageprocessing server is organized in order to distribute at least oneprocess or one process device among from a message reception andtransmission process or a process device for performing a messagereception and transmission process, a message body information storingprocess or a process device for performing a message body informationstoring process, an e-mail reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess, and a message property information database process or aprocess device for processing the message property information data. 59.The message transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 25 wherein said message processing server is organized in order todistribute at least one process or one process device among from amessage reception and transmission process or a process device forperforming a message reception and transmission process, a message bodyinformation storing process or a process device for performing a messagebody information storing process, an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess or a process device for performing an e-mail reception andtransmission process, and a message property information databaseprocess or a process device for processing the message propertyinformation data.
 60. The message transmission and reception controllingmethod as claimed in claim 29 wherein said message processing server isorganized in order to distribute at least one process or one processdevice among from a message reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing a message reception and transmissionprocess, a message body information storing process or a process devicefor performing a message body information storing process, an e-mailreception and transmission process or a process device for performing ane-mail reception and transmission process, and a message propertyinformation database process or a process device for processing themessage property information data.
 61. The message transmission andreception controlling method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said messageprocessing server is organized in order to distribute at least oneprocess or one process device among from a message reception andtransmission process or a process device for performing a messagereception and transmission process, a message body information storingprocess or a process device for performing a message body informationstoring process, an e-mail reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess, and a message property information database process or aprocess device for processing the message property information data. 62.The message transmission and reception controlling method as claimed inclaim 40 wherein said message processing server is organized in order todistribute at least one process or one process device among from amessage reception and transmission process or a process device forperforming a message reception and transmission process, a message bodyinformation storing process or a process device for performing a messagebody information storing process, an e-mail reception and transmissionprocess or a process device for performing an e-mail reception andtransmission process, and a message property information databaseprocess or a process device for processing the message propertyinformation data.
 63. The message transmission and reception controllingmethod as claimed in claim 47 wherein said message processing server isorganized in order to distribute at least one process or one processdevice among from a message reception and transmission process or aprocess device for performing a message reception and transmissionprocess, a message body information storing process or a process devicefor performing a message body information storing process, an e-mailreception and transmission process or a process device for performing ane-mail reception and transmission process, and a message propertyinformation database process or a process device for processing themessage property information data.